Willis the Pilot eBook

ring round the altar, broken here and there by a band
of music. These bands play hymns in honor of the
saints, and other morceaux of a sacred character.
Each member of the association holds a letter inclosed
in an embossed and highly ornamented envelope, bound
round with gay-colored ribbons and threads of gold.
These letters are messages from the young correspondents
to their friends in heaven, and are addressed to ’Il
Santo Giovane Luigi Gonzaga, in Paradiso.’
At a given signal, the letters, in the midst of profound
silence, are placed on the chafing-dish. This
done, the music resounds on all sides, and the assembly
burst out into loud acclamations, during which the
letters are supposed to be carried up into heaven
by the angels.”

“A curious and interesting ceremony,”
remarked Mrs. Wolston, “and one that may possibly
do good, inasmuch as it may induce the young people
composing the association to persevere in generous
resolutions.”

The two families again separated for the night.
And whilst the young men were escorting the Wolstons
to their tree, Sophia went towards Jack. “Will
you tell me,” inquired she, “what happened
whilst I had my ears closed up, Jack?”

“Yes, with all my heart, if you will tell me
first what the chimpanzee had been about during our
absence.”

“Well, he got up into our tree when we were
out of the way. After soaping his chin, he had
taken one of papa’s razors, and just as he was
beginning to shave himself, some one entered and caught
him.”

“Oh, is that all? What I have to tell you
is a great deal more appalling than that.”

“Well, then, be quick.”

“But I am afraid you will be shocked.”

“Is it very dreadful?”

“More so than you would imagine. If you
dream about it during the night, you will not be angry
with me for telling you?”

“No, I will be courageous, and am prepared to
hear the worst.”

“What was your father saying when you shut up
your ears?”

“Herbert had just pulled out a dagger.”

“And when you took your hands away?”

“All was then over; Herbert had done some dreadful
thing with the dagger, and I want to know what it
was.”

“He pared an apple with it,” replied Jack,
bursting into a roar of laughter, and, running off,
he left Sophia to her reflections.

A few seconds after he returned. This time he
had almost a solemn air, the laughter had vanished
from his visage, like breath from polished steel.

“Miss Sophia,” inquired he gravely, “are
you rich?”

“I don’t know, Master Jack; are you?”

“Well, I have not the slightest idea either.”

CHAPTER XIV.

THE TEARS OF CHILDHOOD AND RAIN OF THE TROPICS—­CHARLES’S
WAIN—­VOLUNTARY ENLISTMENT—­A LIKENESS GUARANTEED—­THE WORLD AT
PEACE—­ALAS, POOR MARY!—­THE SAME BREATH FOR TWO BEINGS—­THE FIRST
PILLOW—­THE LOGIC OF THE HEART—­HOW FRITZ SUPPORTED GRIEF—­A GRAIN OF
SAND AND THE HIMALAYA.